A Lovey-Dovey Workplace?

In today’s small-business report, myself and two colleagues looked at the challenges that husbands and wives face in running small businesses together.

For this blog, I asked a few other couples about one issue in particular—how they feel about expressing affection in front of employees, customers and suppliers. Perhaps it’s a sign that Cupid is running amok this month, but I mostly came across proud love birds who aren’t afraid to expose how they feel on the job.

“There’s not a difference in how we act at work and at home,” says Janet Fiore, who shares part ownership of Sierra Group, a disability consulting firm in King of Prussia, Pa., with her husband, Michael. Even if their 18 employees are present, “we’ll call each other honey or sweetie,” she adds.

Miami-based shoe designers Donald and Lisa Pliner also don’t hide their love for one another, such as by exchanging the occasional smooch in the office or at a trade show. “We don’t do it a way that’s obnoxious,” says Mr. Pliner. “It’s sweet.”

Selena Cuffe recalls once getting embarrassed when a supplier saw her business partner and husband, Khary, tap her butt. “It was completely inappropriate,” she says. The Cuffes, co-owners of wine-import business Heritage Link Brands LLC in Los Angeles, have since made a point of limiting their affections while working to intense stares.

“It’s our way of saying, ‘I can’t wait to see you tonight,’ ” explains Ms. Cuffe. “My husband is really good at it. He’s got a poker face, but I usually giggle.”